Jenner, Harry & Ada

Chief ERA Harry Jenner (a war grave) - who was killed in a bombing raid in 1941 whilst ‘Standing By’ HMS UNBENDING (P37) which was building in the Yard. He was staying in the Trevelyan Hotel, on the corner of High Street and Dalkeith St. HMS Unbending was to be launched on 12 May 1941.

Sec. 5. Nonconformist. Grave 159.
Service No. P/M 22010

H44 (See below) [Source]

One Hotel had gone and a little street. The former and four houses of the latter are just rubble, and no one was saved from them. I could not have believed so few bombs could do so much damage. Bulging walls, gaping windows, crazily leaning chimneys, dirty tired wardens, ordinary citizens in demolition gangs working like men possessed, crowds of quiet, white faced spectators. [Source]
Nella Last’s Diary records: Easter Monday, 14 April 1941

Jenner had been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal 31st December 1940: published in the Supplement to the London Gazette 1st January 1941. The Submarine Museum, Gosport, told me that his honour was for services on HM Submarine H44. H44 was an old submarine of the Holland H602 Class, built by Armstrong Whitworth on the Tyne and launched on 17 February 1919.

Ada Charlotte Jenner, of 16 St. Helen’s Rd, Drayton, Portsmouth also died. The Burial Records say that she was the wife of Harry, but CWGC says that she was the wife of William Jenner, presumably Harry’s brother. She is buried in the same grave, but not recorded on the gravestone.

21 Jun 1940

HMS H 44 (Lt. E.D. Norman, RN) torpedoed and sank the small Danish merchant Alfa (844 GRT, built 1921) off Texel, Netherlands.

Ada Charlotte Jenner, of 16 St. Helen’s Rd, Drayton, Portsmouth also died. The Burial Records say that she was the wife of Harry, but CWGC says that she was the wife of William Jenner, which if correct, could be Harry’s brother. She is buried in the same grave, but not recorded on the gravestone. The exact relationship remains unknown. The Barrow Submariner’s Association believe that she was Harry’s aunt. (The Mail: Nostalgia section 14 April 2016)

At 1750 hours HMS H 44 spotted a merchant ship of about 3000 tons at 4000 yards. At 1810 hours two torpedoes were fired from 3500 yards. One torpedo was seen to hit the target amidships three minutes after firing. Four of the crew of the Alfa died in the attack.

[Source]

Ancestry tells from the National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1941 that JENNER Charlotte Ada (sic) of 16 St. Helen’s-road Drayton Portsmouth (wife of William Jenner) died 14 April at 1 Dalkeith-street Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire Probate Llandudno to the said William Jenner newsagent. Effects £944 3s 11d.

The same page has JENNER Harry of 16 St. Helens-road Drayton Portsmouth died 14 April on war service Administration Llandudno 22 September to Roy Maurice Jenner bacteriologist and chemist. Effects £2102 5s 10d.

The 1939 Register has Charlotte Ada Jenner (DoB 22 June 1900) living at 16 St. Helen’s Road, Portsmouth, carrying out Unpaid Domestic Duties.

In the 1911 Census Harry Jenner is living with his parents and siblings at 26 Linden Road, Gillingham, Kent. The household was:

Harry Jenner (43), Head, Chief Engine Room Artificer (RN), born Gillingham, Kent; Gertrude Jenner (29), Wife, born Malta; Harry Jenner (10), Son, born Malta; Percival W. Jenner (9), Son, born Malta; Vera G. Jenner (4), Daughter, born Malta; and Roy M. Jenner (1), Son, born Gillingham, Kent.

Harry’s Naval Records can be found on Ancestry. His date of birth is listed as 2 November 1900 at Casal Paula, Malta. He signed up for 12 years on 2 November 1918. Considering he ended up in the Submarine Service, he was a tall man: 5ft 10ins when he joined, and 6ft 1in in November 1928. Perhaps that is why his service record has him on submarine supply ships such as HMS Maidstone; HMS Cyclops and HMS Titania, as well as submarines H44 and H49.